Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)

Prevention

While it's impossible to prevent all infections, you can help to decrease exposure and spreading:

• Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose or after caring for a child with a sore throat.

• If someone in your home has pharyngitis, keep his or her eating utensils and drinking glasses separate from those of other family members. Wash these objects thoroughly in hot, soapy water.

• If a toddler with pharyngitis has been chewing or sucking on toys, wash these objects thoroughly in water and disinfectant soap, then rinse well.

• Promptly dispose of any dirty tissues from runny noses and sneezes, and then wash your hands.

• Do not allow a child who has been diagnosed with strep throat to return to school or day care until he or she has been taking antibiotics for at least 24 hours and symptoms have improved.

Treatment

Because antibiotics do not work against viruses, viral pharyngitis usually is treated by easing the symptoms to make you feel more comfortable until your body's immune system defeats the infection. These measures include:

• Getting plenty of rest (either in or out of bed)

• Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin (in adults only) to relieve throat pain

• Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration

• Gargling with warm salty water to ease throat pain

• Drinking warm liquids (tea or broth) or cool liquids or eating gelatin desserts or flavored ices to soothe the throat

• Using a cool mist vaporizer to relieve throat dryness

• Using nonprescription throat lozenges (with or without zinc) or anesthetic throat sprays

• Taking nonprescription decongestants and antihistamines to relieve nasal congestion and runny nose

• Taking vitamin C supplements if recommended by your doctor

These measures will help to ease your discomfort if you have strep throat, but you also will have to take antibiotics to prevent complications. Your doctor will prescribe a 10-day course of penicillin or amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox) to eliminate the strep bacteria. If you are allergic to penicillin (including amoxicillin), you may be given erythromycin or one of the macrolides, such as azithromycin (Zithromax) or clarithromycin (Biaxin). It’s important to take all the medication, even after you start to feel better.